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British Minigolfers to compete in Asian Open Minigolf Championships in China

Written by Richard Gottfried

British Minigolfers to compete in Asian Open Minigolf Championships in China

AN AIRLINE pilot and a journalist from Surrey are set to travel more than 5,000 miles across the world to represent Great Britain at miniature golf.

Richard Skeggs and Oliver Florence will fly out to the city of Kunming in China at the end of the month to play in the 2010 Asian Open.

The pair will line up alongside top players from countries including Japan, Iran, Taiwan, Nigeria, Germany, Thailand and the United States as they battle it out in the three day tournament that takes place between the 5th and 7th November at Hello! Pro Minigolf Club, Kunming City, China.

The tournament is organised by the Asia Minigolf Sport Federation in conjunction with the World Minigolf Sport Federation.

The 28-year-olds, who became friends at Hampton School in south west London have been playing minigolf semi-professionally for less than a year.

They have already competed in several tournaments around the UK on the tour organised by the British Minigolf Association (BMGA).

With two weeks to go before the start of the action, Florence, a journalist from Walton-on-Thames who is ranked 39th in the country, said: “I’m really looking forward to getting out to China and testing myself against some of the top players in the world.

“Some people see minigolf as just something that passes the time at the seaside but there is a small group of dedicated skilful players in this country who have taken the game to a new level and I feel like I’m representing them all. I haven’t been playing long and to be going overseas carrying the hopes of my country makes me very proud.”

British number 28 Skeggs from Horley, who flies planes from Gatwick, said: “I thought Oliver was mad when he suggested travelling more than 5,000 miles for a game of minigolf.

“However the lure and excitement of carrying the Union Jack during the opening ceremony, as well as competing at such a high level were too much to turn down. It’s going to be a difficult challenge but a great experience and hopefully I can challenge for the top places.”

The duo will spend several days before the tournament practising their putting and mapping the course to give them the best chance of success. They will also be required to attend a press conference to face the local media and will take part in opening and closing ceremonies.

Sean Homer, BMGA chairman, said: “Following the success of the Great Britain team at the recent European Championships in Italy, it’s a great boost to the BMGA to have two more of our members taking the plunge and playing in the Asian Open in China this year. Oliver and Richard are both in their rookie season on the BMGA tour and have jumped at the opportunity to represent Great Britain in the competition.”

“The experience of playing internationally will not only benefit both Oliver and Richard in further developing their minigolf skills and techniques but also helps to raise the profile of our players and the association outside of the UK, all of which is very positive and encouraging for us as an organisation.

“Above all I am sure that they will both thoroughly enjoy the event and in the process develop some great links with the foreign players taking part. On behalf of myself, the BMGA and all of our members I would like to wish them both the very best of luck and look forward to following their progress online when the tournament tees off in November.”

BMGA media officer Richard Gottfried said: "Representing Great Britain overseas is a tremendous honour, and short of winning a World Title is the high point of many minigolf players’ careers. I myself played for GB in Finland in 2008 and the pride you feel when playing for your country and competing against the best in the world is amazing. I wish Oliver and Richard the very best of British on their travels to China, and look forward to following the results and their tour as it unfolds.”

Great Britain’s Team Manager Marc Chapman added: "I wish Richard and Oliver all the best at the Asian Open this year and to do British Minigolf proud. It will be a tough test as they join some top German internationals along with the best players that the Asian continent has to offer. Use this experience to further your knowledge of the sport and bring this knowledge back to apply to the domestic events next season."

Oliver and Richard will become the 29th and 30th BMGA tour professionals to make an appearance for Great Britain at an international minigolfsport competition since Peter Parr made received the first GB Cap at the 1999 World Minigolf Championships, in Papendal, The Netherlands.

The Great Britain kit for the competition will be supplied by UrbanCrazy http://www.urbancrazy.com/. Based in London, UrbanCrazy is an innovative and exciting company, designing and building permanent and portable crazy golf, mini golf and adventure golf courses. Their permanent courses are ideal for parks, leisure centres and back gardens - and their portable courses are available to rent for corporate events, parties and so on. They also supply a wide range of high grade miniature golf equipment and accessories. UrbanCrazy have sponsored the Great Britain team in a number of International tournaments since 2007.

Following on from Marc Chapman, Alan Norman and Coach Anna Green’s trip to Predazzo, Italy for the EMF European Championships earlier this year, Oliver and Richard will be the third and fourth BMGA players to represent GB overseas in 2010.

Great Britain is currently ranked 24th of 30 countries in the WMF Nations World Rankings, and with the 2010 Asian Open Championships a total of 30 players will have made 61 appearances representing Great Britain in World and European Championships (both Youth and Adult), Nations Cup competitions, and the Asia Open since 1999.